GAHANNA - Licking Heights will be returning to a familiar site for its Central District tourney opener.

It's just not where many might have imagined. But local boys basketball fans won't be complaining.

The Hornets (11-9), seeded 34th out of the 48 Division I schools, chose to play at fifth-seeded Newark (18-3) in a first-round tournament game. The Wildcats and Westerville North tied for the fourth seed, with the Warriors winning out on a vote-off. The game will be played at 7 p.m. Feb. 22 (instead of Feb. 24) due to a conflict with girls basketball and wrestling at Jimmy Allen Gymnasium.

"They know us and we know them," Heights coach Matt Faska said. "We've played there before (in the Newark Holiday Tournament). The kids will be excited. They were hoping to get to play them in holiday tournament, but didn't get a chance."

Faska and his staff were torn between playing at No. 8 seed Westerville South or Newark. "We just thought, sizewise, we matched up better with Newark," he said. "South has some very good guards. Plus, you have the stigma of them winning the state two years ago."

Newark coach Jeff Quackenbush said he was not surprised by the Hornets' decision. "As I recall, they were very impressive (against Painesville Harvey in the Newark event)," he said. "All I know is, you have to win four games to win a district title, and if we get that chance, all four games are going to be interesting."

If the Wildcats win, they would host longtime rival Lancaster (seeded 43rd) in the second round. A district semifinal meeting could loom against sixth-seeded Dublin Coffman, and a district final against second-seeded Upper Arlington. "Coffman didn't waste any time putting themselves on there," Quackenbush said. The Shamrocks recently lost to the Golden Bears on a 3-pointer at the buzzer by Notre Dame recruit Dane Goodwin.

Watkins Memorial was seeded 37th in Division I and will play the winner of 10th-seeded Reynoldsburg and 40th seed Thomas Worthington.

In Division II, Granville (14-6) was seeded 8th out of 22 teams and took a first-round bye. The Blue Aces will meet the winner of 15th-seeded Bloom-Carroll and fifth seed Bexley for a trip to the district semifinals, where top-seeded Beechcroft will likely be looming.

"I thought we would be anywhere from the eighth to 12th seed," said Granville coach Adam Teeters. "So I'm happy with our seeding. I know Bloom-Carroll is a young team, and Bexley has played a tough schedule and has been playing really well of late, beating Columbus Academy and Whitehall.

"It gives us a chance to play in a district semifinal," Teeters added. "I know it would be tough, facing Beechcroft, but we haven't been to the district semis in like eight or nine years. Over the next two weeks, we have to find that balance between keeping sharp and not getting too stale, maybe finding a scrimmage we can play in."

Licking Valley (9-10) was 16th seeded and will play at No. 12 Centennial in its opener. No. 21 seed Utica (3-18) drew the unenviable task of opening at Beechcroft, while No. 19 Lakewood awaits the winner of No. 2 Eastmoor Academy-No. 18 London.

Northridge has enjoyed a nice 13-7 season but found itself in the middle of the pack as a No. 12 seed in a loaded 25-team Division III field. The Vikings will open at No. 10 Elgin in their opener.

"They've thrown some monster teams in there," Northridge coach Brian Blume said of Harvest Prep, Africentric and Wellington. "We played Elgin earlier, played pretty sloppy and only lost by 3. Plus, we're familiar with Academy and Ready (possible future opponents). After what we lost from last year, the kids have done a great job."